The ramblings of a fool.
not just for Christmas. That should have been the title of the presentation I gave to the IT Services department at Leeds Beckett University last December. Instead, I called it “It’s all Academic”. Serious title regret. I was asked to talk to the department about how to work better with Academics. First of all, I […]
Read More Academics are for life…I was invited to present at the UCISA Support Service Group #ussc17 conference in Bristol. I went to the conference last year with some IT colleagues and we presented a 20×20 called ICT vs Academics and I wrote a blog post whilst there called ICT vs Educational Technologists. This year I was invited to expand on […]
Read More ICT vs The World #ussc17But just because it does the job, doesn’t mean we can’t seek something better. Should discussions about next-gen digital learning environments be restricted by a “what we have now works” mentality? The conversation so far Jisc recently began a Co-design consultation which seeks the next big ideas on their six challenge areas. Details of the challenges […]
Read More The VLE works just fineEver since the inception of the VLE it feels like we have been asking ourselves this question. We await the next generation, the technology that will save us all from the tyranny of the VLE. VLE (or LMS for my American friends) systems are a divisive technology in education. Some people hate them, others love them, most tolerate […]
Read More Why won’t the VLE die?Relationships between departments, in any sector, can be difficult and HE is no exception. But this came as a bit of a surprise to me whilst enjoying a tipple in the evening at the UCISA Support Services Group conference. Apparently some ICT staff are not keen on the educational technologists at their institution. I’ve used the […]
Read More ICT vs. Educational TechnologistsDay three ends on a high. Today has been about thinking differently. I think I’ll leave thinking differently. Considering I was not sure I’d enjoy SSG I sit here sad it’s over. TOPdesk It’s not just for IT! Sandra Gillham, IT Service Desk Manager, Keele University and Hannah Price, Senior Consultant, TOPdesk Sandra found […]
Read More UCISA SSG16 Day 3: Thinking, Hacking, BrillianceUCISA SSG continues to surprise me on day two. There was a bit about shiny stuff, a word from our students, a bit about processes, a bit about bees and some fervent dancing. Thinking outside the Box. How a little bit of box made a big difference Chris Dixon, Head of Operations, Lancaster University and Valerie Focke, […]
Read More UCISA SSG16 Day 2: Boxes, Bees, DanceThis is my first UCISA Support Services Group conference. It has always been, in my mind, “not for me”. It has always struck me as being for ICT professionals. That the presenters and attendees will not speak my language. I imagined it being full of tedious sessions with people droning on about their latest implementation […]
Read More UCISA SSG16 Day 1: People, Service, Duty